AFP upbeat on peace talks with Reds

MANILA, Philippines – Despite alleged violations of the holiday ceasefire, the military remains optimistic about the peace process with communist rebels.

“We are serious about talking peace. We are not recording the errors they committed as part of the grounds we can use not to initiate talks… The government remains on the negotiating table… If they are serious they should come back,” Col. Restituto Padilla, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman, said in an interview on Monday.

“It does not affect us but it reflects on them, that they are not serious about the peace talks,” Padilla said.

Security officials said the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked soldiers in Surigao del Sur, Bukidnon and Davao City on Dec. 23 and in Camarines Sur on Jan. 1.

Padilla said the NPA atrocities had strengthened the resolve of the military to achieve peace. He said the violations of the holiday truce could be indications that the communist leadership had lost control over some of its ground troops.

“This is a sign that…we should negotiate with those on the ground instead of negotiating with those up there,” he added.

Peace talks between the government and the communist rebels were suspended after the two parties failed to reach a settlement on detained rebel leaders.

The National Democratic Front (NDF) said the release of the peace consultants is consistent with the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees signed in 1995.

The government panel rejected the demand, saying the NDF could not validate the identities of the jailed rebels, especially those using aliases.